Exploring Website Carbon Footprint: How Eco-Friendly is Your Site?

In this digital age, have you ever wondered about the environmental impact of the websites you visit daily? Despite their virtual nature, websites leave behind a significant carbon footprint. With the website carbon calculator, a tool is now designed to calculate the energy usage hiding behind your screen. But how does it work? Let’s break it down into simple terms:

• Data Transfer Over the Wire: When you load a webpage, energy is used proportionately to transfer data. Icecat keeps track of this energy flow, considering cached assets for repeat visitors.
• Energy Intensity of Web Data: Energy is exchanged between data centers, networks, and your device. Icecat uses an average to understand this digital energy exchange.
• Energy Source at Data Centers: Icecat looks into where the energy comes from, checking if data centers use eco-friendly sources, thanks to databases like The Green Web Foundation.
• Carbon Intensity of Electricity: The type of electricity used affects emissions. Icecat adjusts calculations for renewable energy, making the picture greener.
• Website Traffic: Icecat estimates emissions per page view by combining these factors, giving insights into a website’s yearly carbon output.

How does Icecat perform?

Currently, the Icecat catalog website ranks with an A+. According to the calculator, it is cleaner than 93% of all web pages globally. Only 0.08g of CO2 is produced every time someone visits this website, and it appears to be running on sustainable energy. Furthermore, Icecat’s blog Iceclog also ranks with an A, which is cleaner than 97% of all web pages globally. Finally, the Icecat Group website ranks with a C, which is cleaner than 67% of all websites.

Icecat Office Labeled with A+

After the Icecat office in Utrecht became more neutral with the installation of solar panels, last year we also renovated and improved the building from the inside. For example, with isolation of the floor and walls. This resulted in a A+ Energy Class of the Utrecht office.

With the already existing fleet of lease cars with zero emission, the usage of sustainable data centers and office supplies, Icecat is taking every opportunity to become more sustainable.

Wouter Maatman

Digital Marketing Manager at Icecat N.V.